search
for
 About Bioline  All Journals  Testimonials  Membership  News


African Crop Science Journal
African Crop Science Society
ISSN: 1021-9730
EISSN: 1021-9730
Vol. 4, No. 1, 1996, pp. 1-9
Bioline Code: cs96034
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge

African Crop Science Journal, Vol. 4, No. 1, 1996, pp. 1-9

 en Integrating Farmers' Information with Geographic Information Systems for Targeting of Maize Research in Kenya
Hassan, R.M. & Njoroge, K.

Abstract

Information from farmers' surveys was combined with climatic information to evaluate the adequacy of the current biophysical characterisation of maize (Zea mays) adaptation zones (MAZs) in Kenya. The analysis showed that a better definition of MAZs was achieved by integrating farmers' information with the climatic data. Six MAZs were defined as distinct target domains for maize research as opposed to the previous four zones described by biophysical characterisation alone. The major biotic and abiotic stress factors, system constraints and socio-economic circumstances were found to vary significantly across the six zones. These attributes significantly influence farmers' decisions on maize cropping pattern and intensity, planting regimes and varietal selection, including germplasm maturity. The results indicated that the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) needs to reallocate research resources to the transitional and mid-altitude zones and to reverse the historical bias towards the high tropics if larger gains are to be realised from maize research.

Keywords
Adaptation zones, farmers' knowledge, maize germplasm, GIS

 
 fr
Hassan, R.M. & Njoroge, K.

Résumé

L'information en provenance des enquetes aupres des paysans etait combinee avec l'information climatique afin d'evaluer avec exactitude les caracteristiques biophysiques courantes des zones d'adaptation de mays (MAZs) du Kenya. L'analyse a montre que la meilleure definition de MAZs etait accomplie par l'integration de l'information des paysans et des donnees climatiques. La bonne caracterisation des systemes de production du mays ainsi que des contraintes est primodiale pour cibler la technologie du mays. Six MAZs [etaient definies comme des domaines a buts differents pour la recherche sur le mays contrairement aux 4 zones anterieures decrites seulement par la caracterisation biophysique. Les principaux facteurs de stress biotique et abiotique, le systeme des contraintes et les circonstances socio-economiques variaient significativement a travers les 6 zones. Ces facteurs influencent significativement les decisions des paysans sur l'intensite et le mode de culture du mays, les regimes de plantation et la selection varietale y compris la maturite du germoplasme. Les resultats ont indique que l'Institut de Recherche Agronomique du Kenya (KARI) a besoin de reaffecter les ressources de recherche dans les zones de transition et de moyenne altitude et d'inverser la tendance historique vers les hautes terres de tropiques si on veut realiser une plus grande production de graines de mai's a partir de la recherche.

Mots Clés
Zones d'adaptation, connaissances des agriculteurs, germoplasme du mais, GIS

 
© Copyright 1996 - African Crop Science Society

Home Faq Resources Email Bioline
© Bioline International, 1989 - 2024, Site last up-dated on 01-Sep-2022.
Site created and maintained by the Reference Center on Environmental Information, CRIA, Brazil
System hosted by the Google Cloud Platform, GCP, Brazil